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Mirror world
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This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (July 2023) |
A mirror world is a representation of the real world in digital form. It attempts to map real-world structures in a geographically accurate way. Mirror worlds offer a software model of real human environments and their workings.[1] It is very similar to the concept of a digital twin.[2]
The term in relation to digital media is coined by Yale University computer scientist David Gelernter. He first speaks of a hypothetical mirror world in 1991.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Roush, Wade (2007-06-18). "Second Earth". MIT Technology Review.
- ^ Kelly, Kevin (2019-12-02). "AR Will Spark the Next Big Tech Platform—Call It Mirrorworld". Wired.
- ^ Gelernter, D. Mirror Worlds: The Day Software Puts the Universe In a Shoebox... How it Will Happen and What It Will Mean?, 1991.
Mirror world
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A mirror world, also referred to as a mirrorworld, is a software-generated digital replica of a physical environment or system—such as a city, organization, or process—that enables users to visualize, interact with, and analyze real-world dynamics in real time through computer interfaces.[1] Coined by computer scientist David Gelernter, the concept envisions these virtual models as "high-tech voodoo dolls," where manipulations in the digital space correspond to and influence the actual world, fostering deeper comprehension without direct physical intervention.[2]
Gelernter first elaborated on mirror worlds in his 1991 book Mirror Worlds: or the Day Software Puts the Universe in a Shoebox...How It Will Happen and What It Will Mean, predicting that advancing computational power would soon allow for such immersive simulations using then-existing technologies like databases and networks.[2] In this vision, mirror worlds function as dynamic "crystal balls," providing live, detailed views of complex systems—ranging from urban traffic flows to corporate operations—supplemented by intelligent agents that automate data processing and historical archives for trend analysis.[1] Gelernter argued that these systems would democratize access to information, transforming computers from mere filing tools into portals for exploring societal structures, though he cautioned about privacy risks in their pervasive data collection.[3]
The core elements of a mirror world, as outlined by Gelernter, include a deep, live picture of the target reality (capturing both static structures and real-time changes), software agents to interpret and act on data, and accumulated history to enable predictive modeling and experiential learning.[2] These components were designed to scale from small-scale applications, like simulating a hospital's patient flow, to global ones, such as modeling international trade networks, all rendered accessibly on personal screens.[1] Early prototypes in the early 2000s, including Gelernter's own Scopeware software from Mirror Worlds Technologies, demonstrated feasibility but faced limitations in processing power and data integration, delaying widespread adoption.[4]
In contemporary contexts, mirror worlds have influenced the development of digital twins—virtual replicas used in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and urban planning for simulation, optimization, and predictive maintenance—directly echoing Gelernter's foundational ideas from over three decades ago.[5] Technologies such as augmented reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and cloud computing have realized aspects of this vision, enabling real-time mirroring in applications like smart cities and autonomous systems, while raising ongoing concerns about data security and ethical representation.[5] Despite these advancements, full-scale mirror worlds remain aspirational, constrained by computational demands and the complexity of accurately modeling human behaviors and unpredictable events.[6]
